Heart to Heart: Faith Seasons Podcast

Isaiah 25:8-9

He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

St. Maria Goretti died a martyr’s death as an eleven-year-old in July, 1902. Her family was very poor but devout and close. When Maria was six, her father moved the family from the east side of Italy to the west in an attempt to find a better life. Sadly, just three years later, when Maria was nine, her father contracted malaria from a mosquito bite and died. Her mother was forced to move in with another family as she and Maria’s brothers and sisters, except for the baby, worked in the fields. Maria cleaned the house, cared for the clothes, cooked the meals and watched over her baby sister each day. She also had to cook and clean for the neighbors with whom they shared living quarters. The neighbors, a man and his 20 year-old son Alessandro, helped in the fields.

Alessandro began saying impure things to Maria, and she would try to keep away from him. When he started to make sexual advances and she told him it was wrong and would be a sin, he threatened to kill her. Still, she held onto her virginity. One day, when Alessandro knew the family would be in the fields where he should also have been working, he saw Maria sitting on the front steps doing some sewing. He tried to rape her and said he would stab her with his awl if she refused. Still, she was able to stop him from doing so at the cost of her life. She screamed, “No! It is a sin! God does not want it!” Alessandro stabbed her fourteen times. Maria’s baby sister, awakened with the commotion, began to cry, and her mother came to see what was wrong. She found Maria on the floor bleeding. The family rushed her to the hospital, but the surgeon could not do enough to keep her alive. He asked Maria to remember him when she got to heaven, and she said she would. Even more astounding, the next day as she lay dying from her wounds, Maria said, “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli.” She also expressed the desire that he, too, should go to heaven. Alessandro, unrepentant at the time, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The judge took into consideration that his father was an alcoholic and that mental illness plagued his family.

During his prison sentence, Alessandro saw Maria in a dream. They were in a garden and she handed him some lilies which immediately burned in his hands. Even more, though, she also expressed forgiveness and love. This filled Alessandro with sorrow for his crime, and his life changed forever. He became a holy man, even becoming a lay brother and serving his Franciscan brothers until his death at age 81.

While Maria has worked countless miracles, she stands out as one who knew the Lord would wipe away her tears. That knowledge gave her the power to forgive her attacker, to love him into holiness of life. Both Alessandro and her mother were present when Maria was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Today she continues her work of loving forgiveness to those who ask for her intercession.

St. Maria Goretti is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Can you forgive someone who caused you physical, emotional, or spiritual pain? How do you show forgiveness?

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Isaiah 2:4-5
He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples.They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. 

Born in Transkei, South Africa, on July 18, 1918, Nelson Mandela was the son of a local tribal leader.  He grew up taking part in the activities of his Tembu tribe. Later, he rejected becoming chieftain in order to study law.  Educated at two excellent universities, Nelson acquired a law degree in 1942. In 1944, he joined a Black Liberation Group, the African National Congress (ANC), as leader of the youth league.  Holding other leadership positions in the ANC as well, Mandela helped to bring many to oppose the apartheid policies, policies based on racial segregation and discrimination, of the ruling National Party in South Africa. 

In Johannesburg, Mandela partnered with another ANC leader to set up the first Black law practice.  They took cases resulting from apartheid laws.  Soon they joined with others to defy South Africa’s pass laws which required non-whites to carry pass books to allow them to be in areas restricted only to white people.  Mandela traveled all over South Africa, promoting non-violent protests against laws upholding racial discrimination.  His work for justice brought the authorities down on him.  They banned him from traveling, from associating with certain people, and from speaking freely.  Still, in 1955, he and others drafted the Freedom Charter which called for a nonracial social democracy in South Africa.  In 1956, he was arrested on charges of treason, a fake charge designed to scare antiapartheid activists.  His case, along with the cases of 100 other activists, went to trial that same year.  Unfortunately, it dragged on for several years.  Finally, Nelson was acquitted in 1961.

Mandela founded the military wing of the ANC and strayed from his nonviolent message for a time after the massacre of unarmed Blacks by the police at Sharpeville in 1960 and the banning of the ANC.  He was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to 5 years in prison.  He admitted to some involvement in sabotage in 1963 and was imprisoned from then until 1990.  During those years, he was offered freedom conditionally several times, but he stood by his people, stating that only free people could negotiate.  It seems that during his incarceration, he decided to embrace peace.

In 1991, Mandela led the ANC in negotiations with the President of South Africa to end apartheid and begin a peaceful transition to democracy. Universal voting rights allowed Mandela to be elected president of the country.  He initiated many programs to improve the living conditions of the country’s Black population.  He did not seek a second term as president.  Instead, he focused on advocating for peace, reconciliation, and social justice internationally.  He promoted peaceful conflict resolution and community service. He was willing to die for the cause of justice.  Fearless, moral, committed to the cause of freedom, Nelson Mandela learned, through suffering.  He lived, in the end, Isaiah’s call to beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. 

Nelson Mandela is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can suffering change your perspective, as it did Nelson Mandela’s, on how to work toward justice peacefully?

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Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the first week of Advent is the Roman Centurion.

from Matthew 8:5-11

As Jesus entered Capernaum, a Centurion approached him with this request: “Sir, my serving boy is at home in bed paralyzed, suffering painfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” “Sir,” the Centurion said in reply, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof.  Just give an order and my boy will get better…”.

The Roman Centurion in today’s Gospel seeks out Jesus to help his servant who is extremely ill.  How did he know to do that?

Roman Centurions were generally not loved by the Jewish people. They commanded 100 soldiers of the occupational force. Charged with keeping order among the conquered people, Centurions were often very involved in the daily life of those they ruled and kept their forces busy with projects in the occupied towns. They even constructed synagogues, as a favor to the Jews, though Romans worshipped pagan gods.

While this Centurion had to be tough to keep his job, he may have had the good political sense to be friendly with the Jewish people in order to hear any news that might be going around. Since Matthew’s Gospel with the Sermon on the Mount comes just before this incident, it’s possible word might have reached the Roman soldier about Jesus, His great love for His people, and His miraculous powers.

Perhaps that is why this Centurion sought Jesus’ help when he got word his servant was so sick.  That raises another question.  How did he have such faith, trusting that Jesus could cure his servant without even coming to his home?  True, he compared Jesus’ power to his own ability to give orders to his soldiers and expect them to be carried out.  Yet, it seems to be more than that.  The Centurion had to have an open heart, a heart that Jesus could touch, and a heart that could trust Jesus completely.  This Centurion set all his pride aside and asked a Jew to help him.  He put away any spite he may have had for the Jews who hated him, and just looked at Jesus’ goodness.  So, the Centurion was a man with a humble heart, and Jesus recognized this.

Let us reflect on this faith-filled, humble soldier the next time we say the words of the Centurion at Mass: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…,”  This Roman was also selfless, in one way at least.  He was asking Jesus for a favor, not for himself, but out of love for his servant who was so deathly ill.

We can bring our requests before the Lord – truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - in the Blessed Sacrament   Will Jesus find our hearts humble and open, trusting that He wants to heal and make us and those for whom we pray wholly alive in His love?  Can we really believe and hold onto that faith, even if things don’t seem to be moving in the direction we expect?  Will He be amazed at our faith as He was with that of the Roman Centurion?   Maybe this Advent, as we take time to reflect on how the Lord became a tiny, helpless baby in order to save us, we can begin to put ourselves helplessly in the hands of an almighty God and simply learn to believe His is the only power that can save.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS 

What Advent activities might help us open our hearts humbly in faith before an all-powerful Savior?

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Today's Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the first week of Advent is the Archangel Raphael.

Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples: “The coming of the Son of Man will repeat what happened in Noah’s time.  In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being married, right up to the day Noah entered the ark.  They were totally unconcerned until the flood came and destroyed them.  So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man… Stay awake, therefore!  You cannot know the day your Lord is coming.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is not asking us to go without sleep.  Rather, He is warning us against sleepwalking through life, missing the very moments He is present with us in ordinary people or in our everyday routine.  He reminds us to be aware of His presence when we face interruptions in our schedule or when this fragile life of ours is threatened by serious crises.

To begin our Advent journey and to ask for the healing which will help us keep alert to the actions of God in our lives during this time of expectation, we might turn to the Archangel Raphael, one of the Archangels revered along with Gabriel and Michael. The Old Testament’s Book of Tobit tells us much about the healing presence of St. Raphael and the importance of recognizing the face of God in our daily encounters.

Tobias was sent by his blind father, Tobit, to recover money he had lent to a man some distance from his home.  Tobias obeyed his father and went to collect the debt. The Archangel Raphael appeared in the form of a young man to Tobias and offered to accompany him on his journey.  Tobias recognized his companion’s goodness and, in so doing, found an unending source of help along the way.

Early on, Raphael rescued Tobias from a sea monster on the banks of the Tigris River.  Shortly thereafter, he urged Tobias to go to a father whose only daughter brought death to all who married her because she was possessed by a demon; Raphael urged Tobias to ask for her hand in marriage. Sara, the daughter, had prayed unceasingly that whatever curse she suffered could be removed.  When Tobias hesitated, Raphael said, “Heed me well… and thou shalt hear why the demon has power to hurt some and not others.  The fiend has power over such as go about their mating with all thought of God shut out of their hearts and minds, wholly intent on their lust…”

So, trusting his good companion, Tobias married the once “dangerous” daughter.  The couple prayed together, and the evil spirit fled.  After that, as the young couple celebrated, Raphael went to collect the debt for Tobias’s father and returned to accompany the newlyweds home.  Once there, Raphael restored sight to Tobias’s blind father.

As Tobias and his father thanked Raphael and wanted to share their money with him, Raphael said, “Prayer, fasting, and alms… here is better treasure to lay up than any store of gold… When thou, Tobias, were praying, I all the while, was offering that prayer to the Lord… Who am I?  I am the Angel Raphael, and my place is among those seven who stand in the presence of the Lord… And the angel left them.

We all sometimes need to be healed from our blindness, so that we see the people – and maybe even the angels in disguise – who come to journey with us through life.

Observing the Beautiful Ornaments

What are some ways we can find healing from daily distractions that keep us from recognizing and trusting in the goodness of those around us?

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Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 20:19-23 is by Fr. Sean Grismer.

Father Sean was ordained a priest on June 4, 2016 for the Diocese of Rockford. He served as an associate at St. Mary in Huntley, St. Bridget in Loves Park, and will begin the role of Spiritual Director to Aurora Central Catholic High School this coming school year. He has led several parish missions and continues to lead pilgrimages to Lourdes and Rome. 

from John 20:19-23
...Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060522-day.cfm

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Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 21:20-25 is by Sr. Sharon Zayac, OP.

Sr. Sharon is a Dominican Sister of Springfield, IL. She has degrees in Secondary Education, Hospital Administration, and Earth Literacy. She is co-founder of Jubilee Farm, her congregation’s 164-acre eco-center, just west of Springfield, IL. She is a writer, speaker, retreat leader both in and outside of the U.S.

from John 21:20-25
...It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that Jesus did,
but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain the books
that would be written.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060422.cfm

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Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 21:15-19 is by Leah and Sean Reynolds.

Leah and Sean live in Cincinnati, OH where they do marriage ministry, serve as CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) on behalf of children from troubled families, and enjoy retirement (and all the time it allows for family and especially grandchildren). Leah recently retired from nursing and Sean from full-time youth and young adult ministry.

from John 21:15-19
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep...”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060322.cfm

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Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 17:20-26 is by Susan Carson.

Susan is a writer, speaker, spiritual director and Founder of Roots & Branches Network, a ministry creating safe space for transformational encounters with Jesus through listening prayer. Susan is the author of rooted (IN): Thriving in Connection with God, Yourself, and Others, and host of the rooted (IN).ten.tionally podcast. Find out more at susancarson.net. 

from John 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060222.cfm

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Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 20:28-38 is by Fr. Terry Charlton, SJ.

Fr. Terry, a Jesuit from Indianapolis, has worked in Nairobi, Kenya, since 1990. He is the Director of Mwangaza Jesuit Spirituality Centre and the Co-Founder, Chaplain, and Director of Development at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School, a fees-free school serving bright students from Kibera slum who are AIDS-affected youth or other orphans and vulnerable children. For more, visit schoolofhopekenya.org.

from Acts 20:28-38
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive...’”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060122.cfm

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Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 17:1-11a is by Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ.

Father Mitch is a Jesuit priest, world renowned lecturer, spiritual director for over fifty Holy Land pilgrimages, respected scripture scholar, published author, and the host of EWTN's television and radio shows. He is also the President and Founder of Ignatius Productions, a Catholic media production apostolate.

from John 17:1-11a
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/tuesday-seventh-week-easter

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